Dan Schmitt
and his memories of Santa Fe Speedway

I was twenty years old and really knew nothing about motorcycle racing. Yes, I read a few articles in magazines about motorcycle racing, but to me, it seemed like it took place somewhere else. But the gang at Ace Cycle World on Western Avenue in Chicago went to motorcycle races. In fact, they went every Wednesday night. I was invited to go along on my 1968 Triumph Bonneville on one Wednesday night to Santa Fe Speedway. Only a forty-minute ride, take the Kennedy Expressway downtown, then west on I-55 to County Line Road. South to 91^st Street and turn left and there it was, a real racetrack with huge grandstands.

I still remember walking in, through the gates, fifty feet of concrete and there was the racetrack, behind the chainlink fence, the track of clay. Practice was going on and it was just unbelievable. It was the coolest thing I ever saw. I said to myself right then and there, “man, I want to do this!”

The gang from Ace;  Hud, VanSkyke, VonEsser, Jimmy, D’wayne, Boles, etc, etc, all sat at the top of the grandstands on the far right side, right above the concession stand. The heat races were so fast, so quick, I have never witnessed anything so exciting. Sliding, on the gas, fourteen-second lap times, two-strokes, four-strokes, leg out, steel shoes, fast bikes, brave men, this was motorcycle racing and it was in Chicagoland.

After the heat races, I went up to the announcer’s booth and talk to the announcer, Jan Gabriel. He told me that in order to race at Santa Fe Speedway, you had to get a professional license. To get a professional license you had to race amateur for two seasons. He also informed me that there were amateur races held at Sycamore Speedway on Friday nights.

Luckily, my friend and fellow coffee truck driver, Joe Scarlata, was also interested in going motorcycle racing. Joe picked up a Ossa Scrambler, a set of used leathers and a Bell helmet. We went to Sycamore Speedway together, Joe racing, I went as his mechanic. The fastest guy out there, on his silver Triumph, was Al Blum. I wanted to race, but only had my Triumph. Joe bet me $10.00 that I would not race during the 1970 season. Well, I won that bet, I stripped down my Triumph and race at the last race of the season at Sycamore Speedway, I fell down in my heat, rode cautiously in the Open B final and won that ten dollars. The following weekend, I traveled to Milburg Speedway in Michigan and completed my first season of amateur racing.

The following year, I bought a 1970 Triumph Bonneville for the street and converted my ’68 for racing. That included a fiberglass BSA gas tank, Dunlop K-70 tires, TT pipes, Ceriani forks and a roadracing style seat.  In 1971, I raced at Sycamore Speedway, Milburg Speedway and I even traveled to Delta, Ohio to race their TT track. This completed my two years of amateur racing. I applied for my professional license with the AMA and received my Novice license with number 115p. I ran my first race at Santa Fe Speedway in 1972.

Photos from Milburg Speedway, 1971.

Dan's Team Chicago Challenge TV  Schedule
 

Comcast Skokie
North Suburbs
Channel 35
Fri 5:00 pm
60,000 households

Comcast Lib-Mun.
Libertyville, IL
Channel 4
Fri 7:00 pm
Fri.7:30 pm
22,000 households

Comcast of McHenry
McHenry Co.
Channel 38
Thu 8:30 pm
24,000 households

Comcast Addison
WestSuburbs
Channel 4
Wed 7:30 pm
55,000 households

Comcast Crystal
Northwest
Channel 3
Wed 11:30 pm
20,000 households

Comcast Mich.
Lansing, MI
Channel 16
Tues 6:00 pm
52,000 Households

Battle Creek Community TV
Battle Creek, MI
Channel 11
Fri 5:30 pm
20,000 households

Adelphia Cable
CALIFORNIA
[West L.A. / Hollywood
Burbank / Santa Monica
Pacific Palasades
Eagle Rock
Thur Channel 3
Beverly Hills
Thur Channel 37
200,000 household
TIME: 4:00 pm

Newly added!!
TV-17 Outdoors & Sports Television
Western towns in northern Illinois
Ch. 17
Cablecast 5 times per week, various times